Best Food for Shih Tzus: What to Look For

What matters most for a Shih Tzu

The AKC lists the Shih Tzu at 9 to 10.5 inches tall and 9 to 16 pounds, with a long life expectancy of 10 to 18 years. It describes the breed as generally long-lived and healthy, while noting possible hip dysplasia, kneecap problems and eye disease, and that, because of their heavy coats and short faces, Shih Tzu do not tolerate heat well. A long-lived small dog benefits most from steady, lean body weight over many years.

For a food, that means three practical priorities: a complete and balanced formula for your dog's life stage, kibble or food texture that a flat face can actually pick up and chew, and clear calorie information so you can portion a small dog's meals accurately. A few extra pieces of kibble a day matter more to a 12-pound dog than to a large one. If yours gulps, a shallow slow feeder dog bowl such as the anti-gulp slow feeder bowl can pace a meal, as long as the design is shallow enough for a short face to reach.

How to read the label

Find the nutritional adequacy statement. It should say the food is complete and balanced for growth, adult maintenance or all life stages, based on AAFCO nutrient profiles or feeding trials. The WSAVA's guidance on selecting pet foods notes that foods meant for intermittent or supplemental feeding should only be a small part of the diet, and that terms such as holistic or premium are not regulated and say little about nutrition.

Then find the calories per cup. US labels must list them, and the WSAVA highlights that this is the figure owners need. Use it with your dog's target weight to set a portion, then weigh the food with a kitchen scale for a few weeks so you learn what the right amount looks like. The ingredient list alone, the WSAVA cautions, tells you little about ingredient quality.

Kibble shape and texture for a short face

Shih Tzus have short muzzles and often crowded teeth, so some find large, round kibble awkward to grip. Small, flat or almond-shaped pieces are often easier, and many small-breed foods use them. Soft or canned foods are another option, or a mix of both. If your dog drops kibble, pushes it around the bowl or swallows it whole, try a smaller or differently shaped piece.

A wide, shallow bowl helps a flat-faced dog reach the food without pressing its nose into the rim. Some owners use a slightly tilted bowl, or a low raised bowl stand for small dogs like this small-dog feeding station. Keep the hair around the mouth trimmed or tied up so it does not drag in food, which also helps keep the face clean and reduces staining.

Best format for each Shih Tzu

For a Shih Tzu puppy, choose a food labeled for growth or all life stages, in small pieces, and feed several small meals a day as your vet advises, since tiny puppies have small stomachs. For an adult, a complete small-breed adult food or a soft food works well. For a less active or older Shih Tzu, a lower-calorie formula makes it easier to keep weight steady.

For a Shih Tzu that is fussy, mixing a spoon of complete canned food into dry food can help, as long as you count both in the daily total. For a dog with dental problems or missing teeth, a soft complete food is kinder. Ask your vet before choosing a senior formula, because senior foods are not standardized and vary in calories.

What to avoid

Avoid large or very hard kibble that your dog struggles with, and avoid free-feeding, which makes it easy for a small dog to gain weight. Keep treats to a small share of daily calories, and break training treats into tiny pieces. Avoid fatty table scraps, which can upset the stomach, and avoid foods only because they are labeled grain-free; the FDA has investigated a possible link between certain such diets and heart disease.

Change foods gradually over about a week. If your Shih Tzu has vomiting, diarrhea, itchy skin, red paws or runny eyes that seem linked to a food change, stop and ask your vet before trying another food. Noisy breathing while eating, or gagging on kibble, is worth mentioning to your vet too.

Keeping a Shih Tzu at a healthy weight

A Shih Tzu's coat hides its shape, so feel rather than look. You should be able to feel the ribs easily with light pressure and feel a waist behind them. Weigh your dog monthly on a home scale, holding it and subtracting your own weight, and adjust portions by small amounts if the number creeps up. A treat pouch such as this training snack bag makes it easier to count treats out of the day's food, and a slow feeder bowl can stretch a small portion into a longer meal.

Gentle daily walks and indoor play keep a Shih Tzu fit, but avoid exercise in the heat of the day, since the breed does not tolerate heat well. Your vet can give you a target weight and calorie figure at each checkup, which matters more than the feeding chart on any bag.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.